In November 2007 area seniors and senior service organizations from across Cape Cod proved that there is indeed power in aging.

At a special Power in Aging summit, associates of various healthcare, financial and elder services agencies from across the Cape took part in presentations and daylong breakout sessions moderated by facilitators from the New England Network.

Since then, members of the Power in Aging Collaborative have mulled over what was discussed and learned that day. They plan to share their revelations at a Power in Aging Meet-and-Greet to be held Aug. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Tilden Arts Center at Cape Cod Community College.

“In November we had a full-day event where everyone was there to talk about the various ways in which the elder service community can collaborate better,” said Melissa Roberts Weidman, director of communications and community outreach for Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod.

“A lot of stuff came out of that, so Power In Aging has spent the last year following up. This is an opportunity to talk about how we’ve been working in the past year. Literally a meet and greet.”

Seniors interested in helping to determine how the Cape community can work together at improving the quality of life for elders are encouraged to attend.

Discussion contributors will include Dr. Kathleen Schatzberg, 4Cs president; Elizabeth Albert, executive director of the Barnstable County Department of Human Services; David W. Rehm, Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod CEO; Paul Schrader of the Consumer Assistance Council; Elizabeth Gawron, president of the Cape Cod Foundation; James Long of the Mashpee Council on Aging; Michael O’Keefe, Cape and Islands district attorney; Dr. Richard Salluzzo, CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare; and Warren Smith of the Senior Mobility Initiative on Cape Cod.

“People will speak for a few minutes about their various perspectives on various needs and working together, and then it will be a chance for people to just talk together,” said Weidman. “It’s really an open conversation.”

Weidman said the purpose of the meet-and-greet is to familiarize seniors with community figures, and for all involved to discuss important issues.

“How can we make the most of our resources to really be improving the quality of life for all Cape Codders as we age?” said Weidman. “How do we learn from each other? How do we take what might be a limited resource and help maximize it? This is a social informal networking event with very important information that we need.”

The event is being held in preparation for another upcoming Power in Aging event.

On Sept. 15 the PIA will present “Aging, Engaging and Creating: Positive Impacts on Well-Being,” a symposium regarding the latest research relevant to the Cape Cod community’s future, at which Gene Cohen, MD, PhD will be the keynote speaker.

“He is a worldwide expert who’s going to help stimulate conversation,” said Weidman. Cohen is the founder and director of the Center on Aging of the National Institute of Mental Health.

“It’s really quite a unique collaboration here on the Cape,” said Weidman. “We all share a concern and interest in making Cape Cod the best possible place for research and services for seniors, as we are seeing an aging boom here. This meet and greet is a way to reach out to the community and expand that dialogue.”

The meet and greet is free and open to the public. For more information email
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For more information about the September symposium visit www.thelivingartsinstitute.org or call 508-737-4220.